Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa left the Senate compound early on May 14 after a shooting incident the previous night. The move came as he seeks to block enforcement of an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged crimes against humanity.
Senator Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa departed the Senate premises at around 2:30 a.m. on May 14. Senate President Alan Peter Cayetano confirmed the departure hours later, stating there was no legal barrier to the senator leaving.
The exit followed a shooting incident inside the Senate building on the night of May 13. Senate security personnel fired 27 shots while National Bureau of Investigation agents fired five shots, according to Cayetano. Officials from Malacañang and the NBI stated no arrest operation targeting dela Rosa was underway at the time.
Dela Rosa faces an ICC warrant issued in connection with the drug war during the Duterte administration. He filed a new manifestation with the Supreme Court on May 15 seeking a temporary restraining order, citing the recent events as making protection more urgent. The court had previously directed government respondents to comment on his petition within three days.
